How to Hide Valuables Under the Staircase

Pry off the tread from the stair using a pry bar or flat bar. Repeat this with as many stairs as desired, depending on the number of storage drawers you wish to create.

Tap the kick plate off the front of the stair with a hammer. Tap on the back side of the kick plate, reaching in through the open space left by the stair tread.

Measure the kick plate to determine the dimensions needed for the drawers. The drawer needs to be 1/4 to 1/2 inch shorter and narrower than the kick plate to slide in and out easily; the depth of the drawer depends entirely on your preferences.

Cut the bottom, back and sides of the drawer from 1/4-inch plywood and glue the pieces together with wood glue. Tap in small finishing nails to help hold the drawers together.

Glue the kick plate to the front of the new drawer and then toe nail them together from the back so no nails are visible from the front.

Carve out or sand a small groove on the top of the kick plate so the drawer can be opened without the need for obvious features such as drawer handles. This groove should be difficult for others to notice because the lip of the stair tread should cover most of the top of the kick plate.

Reinstall the stair tread and then fit the drawer into the opening for a practice fit; mark where the bottom sides of the drawer meet the inside of the stair casing, allowing 1/8-inch below the mark for drawer clearance.

Measure and cut two sections of 1-by-1-inch square trim board; the boards should be the same length as the sides of the drawers. Fasten the 1-inch by 1-inch square trim to the inside stair-casing with finish nails and a hammer, aligning the trim with the drawer marks. The trim pieces prevent the drawer from falling into the empty space inside the staircase.

Place valuables in plastic bags or velvet pouches to protect them from scratches and dirt. Arrange them in the drawer, then slide the drawer closed.

Cover the stairs with a stair runner, if desired, to further conceal the steps.